Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering all-the-way performance to salute by two lengths over Mr Brightside in the sixth edition of The All-Star Mile in 2024.
Pride Of Jenni was too strong saluting by two lengths in the 2024 All-Star Mile race at Caulfield. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The outstanding Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Dubai mare was simply too fast for the field in this year’s $3.75 million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Caulfield powering home for an impressive victory under the riding of Declan Bates.
“I can believe it. We have so much faith in her,” the winning hoop said.
“This prep, every time I’ve sat on her back, she has certainly improved from last spring.
“I didn’t want to say that out loud because of what she did last spring and not say that she might have come back better, but I think that is the case.
“She is doing it, sustain a gallop, is so impressive.”
The genuine miler added to her fantastic 1600m record that includes the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes and Group 1 Champions Mile races from the spring.
In a masterful training performance by Maher, he allowed the mighty mare five weeks between her big run fresh when just beaten a nostril-flare by Mr Brightside in the Group 1 C.F. Orr (1400m) here on February 10.
Lindsay Park’s weight-for-age hero and winner of last year’s The All-Star Mile race at The Valley, Mr Brightside, franked the Orr form returning to that track and trip to win the Futurity.
Maher though gave Pride Of Jenni time to recover and she remained fit and ready to fire in the All-Star turning the tables on her regular foe Mr Brightside to deny him back-to-back wins in the event.
“She’s thrilling to watch, isn’t she?” Maher told Seven post-victory.
“Unbelievable…I was very, very confident coming into the race, but going into a race like that (and) Brightside’s coming off a couple of Group 1 wins, (just) super.
“I think the team has done a fantastic job.”
Bates had a plan and executed it to perfection getting Pride Of Jenni into the lead within the first 400m of the run.
“I was happy enough going to the first corner,” Bates said.
“She began cleanly, and that is my first main job, that first 400 metres.
“She jumped nice and cleanly and straight away she was into that nice rhythm, even though I had a few kicking up on my inside.
“I knew I could take my time and stay a bit wide early.
“Once I got to the front, I got there doing it in a nice manner and once she turned down the side, she wants to go and at that point you’re almost a passenger and pointing her in the right direction. I was on that part of the track I wanted to be on.
“I put her there and she did the rest.”
Jockey Craig Williams meanwhile made the call to go back from the wide gate on the short-priced favourite Mr Brightside who jumped from double-digits and settled third last in the run.
Pride Of Jenni set a brutal tempo in the lead giving Mr Brightside a huge task as he had to make up some 15 plus lengths to catch her approaching the turn.
Mr B was forced to come wide around the Caulfield home corner and just didn’t have it in him to get to Pride Of Jenni in time as the winning mare never relinquished her lead.
It was an arrogant performance by both Pride Of Jenni and Bates, the winner getting to her top speed off a searing pace and maintaining it until the very end.
“I didn’t look either way (on the corner),” Bates added.
“I just kept her aimed at the line.
“I’m used to Mr Brightside flashing down my outside, so I was half expecting it, but I was pretty glad to see inside that last 100 metres he wasn’t in my vision anywhere.
“She’s special.”
In third also running well was James Cummings’ veteran galloper Cascadian who was runner-up in last year’s race.
He looks on track for a title defence in the Group 1 $3 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 30, a race Mr Brightside is also now likely to target.
Mr Brightside is the $2.90 favourite in all-in 2024 Australian Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au with Pride Of Jenni at $9 to extend her brilliance over the extra distance with markets available in full by clicking here.
2024 All-Star Mile Race Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | PRIDE OF JENNI | Ciaron Maher | Declan Bates | 6 | 57kg | $3.80 | |||
| 2 | 1 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 2L | 11 | 59kg | $2F | ||
| 3 | 2 | CASCADIAN (GB) | James Cummings | Ben Melham | 3L | 7 | 59kg | $9.50 | ||
| 4 | 6 | BUFFALO RIVER (USA) | Michael Moroney | Ms Celine Gaudray (a) | 5L | 9 | 59kg | $51 | ||
| 5 | 4 | MUNHAMEK (GB) | Nick Ryan | Mark Zahra | 7.25L | 10 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 6 | 5 | DOM TO SHOOT | Sean & Jake Casey | Damian Lane | 7.45L | 12 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 7 | 9 | AYRTON (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Ms Jamie Kah | 7.55L | 5 | 59kg | $13 | ||
| 8 | 11 | HOLYMANZ (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn | 7.65L | 3 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 9 | 8 | DESERT LIGHTNING (NZ) | Peter & Dawn Williams | Vinnie Colgan | 8.05L | 8 | 59kg | $18 | ||
| 10 | 7 | PINSTRIPED | Enver Jusufovic | Ben Allen | 9.05L | 1 | 59kg | $21 | ||
| 11 | 3 | ATTRACTABLE | Sara Ryan | Ms Linda Meech | 17.05L | 2 | 59kg | $31 | ||
| 12 | 10 | PUNTURA (NZ) | Robbie Patterson | Craig Grylls | 21.55L | 4 | 59kg | $101 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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